The first thing you hear out of their mouth is “I’ve had a very, very bad day.” Of course, you listen sympathetically while they unload their frustration. You offer them a drink to calm their nerves. They don’t want one. You make some suggestions as to how they might resolve their situation. Your ideas are dismissed as impossible, ill informed, or just plain wrong. Still trying to make things better, you offer them food. They’re not hungry. You ask if they want to watch a light-hearted movie. How could they possibly laugh at a time like this? Finally, you suggest that things might seem better in the morning—and you propose going to bed early. Wrong move. Don’t you realize that they are going to be up half the night sorting out this mess? In fact, don’t you understand anything? Obviously you don’t. So, they decide to go for a walk, taking the opportunity to slam the door on their way out. Now it’s you who needs a drink. You feel dejected and annoyed. As you sip your extra-strong drink, you ask yourself, How did that happen—again?
